www.CostaRicaTicas.com

An interesting and informative article from this mornings Inside Costa Rica.

"Car Rental Companies in Hide Information From Clients, Government Study Reveals
A study by the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio (MEIC), reveals that car rental companies hide important information from their clients.

The study was made to compare prices offered by 14 car rental companies in San José. However, the study turned to verifying if the prices offered to consumers was final price, like including insurance, deposits and additional charges like for extra time, exchange rates, etc.

The investigation took place during the past week and revealed that in many of the cases, the extra charges were not clearly spelled out to customers, especially in the area of the exchange rate being used.

In only 36% of the cases, the renter explained the additional charges like if the vehicle was returned to a location other than where it was rented. In many of the cases, the guarantee deposit was not clearly spelled out and some companies did not indicate the cost of the driver if the vehicle was rented with a driver or the extra charge if the vehicle was not returned on time.

According to the MEIC, only four of the fourteen companies complied with all the regulations.

The MEIC says that the rental companies are involved in "price war" and a difference of up to 57% in the price was found in the rental of a similar vehicle. The MEiC found that a small passenger vehicle renting for us$40 at one rental company could cost as much as us$57 at another. The same SUV costing us$98 at one car rental could cost us$146.35 at another.

The MEIC found that the rates published by the car rental companies are net, meaning they do not include the cost of insurance and other extras, like if renting a vehicle from the airport there is an additional 12% added to cost of the service.

The following is an MEIC publishing of the daily "net" prices offered by the various car rental companies:

Economy Sedan

Mapache us$40.00
Avis us$42.24
Toyota us$45.99
Hertz us$46.49
Tricolor us$49.00
Alamo us$50.95
Europcar us$50.98
Sixt us$51.75
Economy us$53.00
Budget us$55.90
National us$56.35
Payless us$59.11
Hola us$62.00
Dollar us$62.95

SUV

Economy us$98.00
Tricolor us$99.00
Mapache us$100.00
Sixt us$103.75
Budget us$103.90
Avis us$105.24
Hertz us$106.49
Toyota us$107.99
Payless us$109.09
Europcar us$121.98
Dollar us$125.95
Alamo us$125.95
Hola us$138.00
National us$146.34

The study found that many customers prefer to rent vehicles at the airport paying the 12% additional airport fee only to find that the vehicles are not at the airport but at the lot close to the airport, where they could have rented the vehicle for less. In case of Alamo and National, ANC is the franchise holder and though they share the same operations, their rental prices are different.

The MEIC advises consumers to review the rental contract carefully and ensure that all the costs are spelled out up front and the terms and conditions of the guarantee deposit as well as traffic tickets and in the event of an accident or theft involving the vehicle."

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Renting a car in CR is a joke. I have first hand experience. First, the price we were quoted wasn't the price we got when we arrived at the rental place. Two years ago, we were quoted like $32/day, but that price was "no longer available", even though we had reserved it, so the next best one was like $36. Then they tack on the usual bullshit charges. Then comes the insurance, and then the insurance deductible, that's always fun. They get authorization on your CC for about $1500, just in case you bring the car back with a scratch, a dent, whatever. If the damage is less than the deductible, they charge your card that amount. If the damage is more, they charge you the full deductible ($1500) and, if you bought it, the insurance pays the rest. If you didn't buy insurance (though I think you HAVE TO buy insurance), you're screwed. And another thing, the whole process took over an hour.

I will NEVER rent a car in CR again. There's no need, unless you want to tour the country by road. That could be fun, but also dangerous. On the way back from Jaco, we stopped at a roadside soda and went in for literally 45 seconds. We came out and some European tourists are telling us that while we were inside a car pulled up and some guys tried to break in to our car (luggage/surfboard in plain view). Thank God we locked the doors or we'd be stuck there without money, passports, clothes, etc. Plus, the drivers in CR are maniacs and I drive in NYC.

There have a number of discussions concerning the pros and cons of renting a car in Costa Rica over the years. Some guys swear it is the only way to go and others say they would never do it. A matter of personal choice. I have rented a car when I was a tourist here and did not have any problems. Yes they put a $1500.00 hold on my CC but released it when I turned the car back in.

As far as driving in CR it really is not as bad as it seems. You have to be both a defensive and aggressive driver at the same time. I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms but it is reality. I have been doing it for two years without a problem. Hardest thing is watching out for the wacko moto drivers.

My original post was not to recommend or discourage anyone from renting a car but rather to have them informed of what to watch out for.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Irish Drifter wrote:


AMEN, BROTHER!

Yes, that sneaky $12 - $15 per day mandatory SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance) charge has a nasty habit of sneaking in at the last moment. Even my AMEX premium car rental coverage ($25 for the term on the rental) does not cover SLI. I always seem to get the best deal from the downtown Thrifty Car Rental office (SJ1-located on Calle 3 near the Amon Plaza). I bypass any airport surcharges and have rented an economy sedan for as low as $35/day total. A small SUV will run about $40/day. I book the day before on the Thrifty.com website...then just walk down to the office the following morning. Thrifty will even deliver the car free of charge to your hotel.

_________________
Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Avis has always treated me well. Perhaps because they know me or because I have status with them, whatever. I rent from the airport location, which is not really at the airport. Check out their web site http://avis.co.cr . Daniel at the airport location is very friendly and speaks great english.

Driving in SJ is a trip, but a necessity for me (condo in Santa Ana). Just do as they do and close your eyes!

Any of the car rental places in CR have cars with GPS?

TT

I know a couple of them do but I can not recall which ones. You will have to ask when you are checking out their rates.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine